Improved caster



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BEACH, 0F FREEPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T() mHIMSELF AND STANLEY R. MOORHEAD.

IM PROVED CASTER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,036, dated August 7, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs BEACH, of Freeport, in the county `of Armstrong and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Casters `for Bedsteads and other Articles of' Furniture; and I y do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specilication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters referring to like parts of each, in which-- Figure l is a perspective View of the caster with the cap removed; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the cap, Iand Fig.' 3 a verticalzsection 'with the cap in its place.

4 The nature of my invention consists in attaching to thc common caster a socket surrounded with an annular metallic cup and cap, the cap being hanged downward over the cup at its outer edge, and at a sufficient distance from it to accomplish the objects hereinafter set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describeits construction and operation.

The wheel a' and shank y ofthe caster I make 0f the ordinary form and of anyrknown maA ferial. For the socket a, cup b, and cap d, dto., I employ any known fusible sheet or wrought metal adapted for the purpose.

I make the socket a large enough to receive the foot of the bedstead or other article of furniture, and of sufficient depth to be fastened firmly thereto. This socket a I encircle with an annular cup, b, of such width auch depth as may be necessary to prevent insects or vermin from passing from its outer, c, to its inner, c', cylinder, or to the cap d, hereinafter to be described. This annular ring or cup I partially ll with liquid, either poisonous or otherwise. The cap d is made to tit firmly onto the top of the socket by a shoulder, e, Fig. 1l, and is flanged downward, as represented in 1 Figs. 2 and 3, over and `outside of the outer barrel of the annular cup, in order t0 keep bed-furniture or otherarticles, and the iin gers of children also, from contact'withthe liquid in the-cup, especially when, as is often the case, the cup contains a poisonous liquid.

Springs m are attached either to the bottom or the sides of the socketa to hold 'the capd firmly to its place, which they do by the shoulders n n projecting over the lips o o on the inner edge of the cap d, which lips o o lit into notches cut in the upper edge of the socket-barrel, as at s s, Fig. l, or by projecting entirely over the edge of the socket-barrel and catching on the inner edge ofthe cap when such lips are not constructed.

I usually fasten the caster to the foot of the bed-post or other furniture by screws, nails, or bolts passing through the heads of the springs, as at z z, though I do not limit myself to this mode of fastening. For this purpose I employ any known mechanical device. Nor do I limit myself to the use of liquid in the annular cup b, as certain powders for some purposes are equally noxious, and equally a protection against the depredations of insects or vermin.

This device I apply to all articles of house` furniture or kitchen-furniture which need the protection referred to-to refrigerators,ymeat safes, Ste., a-s well as to wardrobes and bedsteads. I also thus secure the use of poisonous substances or compositions in the manner and for the purposes set forth without incurring the least danger. A child cannot get into the annular cup, nor articles of bed-furniture or Wearing apparel, While 'vermin or wiugless A insects cannot get over it. It is free from dust and dirt, and can be readily taken off to be cleaned or to have the liquid or other contents renewed, y I

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The cap d, secured to the socket-barrel by the shoulders nu or other equivalent device, and the annular cup b, the two being constructed, arranged, and combined substantially in the manner and for the purposes above set forth. 2. A furniturecaster having a socket, a., an annularcup, b, a cap, d, and springs m m, arranged and combined substantially in the Inanner and for the purposes above set forth. In testimony whereof' I, the said THOMAS BEACH, have hereunto set my hand.

'rHoMAs BEACH.

Witnesses: I

W. D. LEWIS, A. S. NICHOLSON. 

